Things to Do in Rome

Rome rewards wanderers. Beyond the postcard sights, the city sprawls across hills and ancient roads where you'll find unexpected treasures—a baroque church revealing its illusionistic ceiling, a neighborhood of art nouveau villas frozen in time, a keyhole framing a perfect view of the Basilica of San Pietro.

Start with the obvious: the Roman Forum and Colosseum area, then branch out. Descend into the Basilica of San Clemente to see 12 centuries of history layered vertically, or walk the Parco Regionale dell'Appia Antica to see tombs and temples from the imperial era. The Baths of Caracalla still convey the scale of Roman leisure. For art, the Musei Capitolini and Palazzo Barberini hold works you'll remember for years.

The Trastevere neighborhood and Centro Storico are where locals eat and drink. Monti has morphed into a creative hub. Climb Janiculum Hill at sunset, duck through the Knights of Malta Keyhole for a three-layered view, or simply sit by Trevi Fountain when the crowds thin. Rome moves at its own pace—plan for long lunches, wandering side streets, and the kind of slow days that make the city legendary.